My friend Eli (who needs to do an Italo Disco installment of Synth Pioneers) put me onto this documentary, which is likely the best exploration of the English synth-pop moment. With great interviews from heroes like Daniel Miller, Vince Clark and Martin Gore, it really got my blood pumping so I wanted to write about a few other acts who were originators of the international electronic pop sound.

Kraftwerk – Computer Love

Talking about the greatness of Kraftwerk is like talking about the necessity of air, so I’ll keep it short. They just released all of their most well-known albums, remastered and with original artwork. “Computer Love” is one of my al time favorite songs. The way the lead seems to phase shift at the end always takes my breath away. Let’s get this straight: A song about loneliness and computers, made before the internet was invented which glides like classical music? Sounds like a plan.

Yellow Magic Orchestra – Technopolis

Yellow Magic Orchestra have been called the Japanese Kraftwerk, in that they were both pop innovators and an awesomely stoic synth band. Ryuichi Sakamoto has since gone on to collaborate with Fennesz and Christopher Willits amongst others. Their work may pre-date synth-pop but it’s surely in the canon of influential works. I often play their hit “Computer Games” if transitioning between sounds in a DJ set. When the beat drops at 1:50, it always lights up the room.

Japan – Gentlemen Take Polaroids

A band that is sorely overlooked is David Sylvian’s Japan project, which married glam and (some would say, invented) new romantic aesthetics to synth austerity and elegant arrangements. Their full sound was more complex than their peers and more sinister by a long shot. Recently, Sylvian has also collaborated with aritsts like Fennesz and covered acts like Blonde Redhead with stunning vocal clarity.

Simple Minds – Glittering Prize

Scotland’s Simple Minds were another band not included in this documentary, probably because they are more associated with the New Wave movement, but like labelmates the Human League, they’re example of a band moving from experimental work to pop success. Their work became increasing U2-like and less electronic, but this track captures them at the peak of a rewardingly sweeping sound, with pitch-perfect production to boot.

Anonymous says:

Anonymous-
It’s well documented, coldplay used that with permission. “Talk” is sort of known as a cover song. Life in Technicolor — the fist song on that same album — features work by synthesist Jon Hopkins: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jon_Hopkins

If you are interested in the pioneers of synths check
the re-release of BERNARD SZAJNER : SOME DEATHS TAKE FOREVER (1980)
it’s released on cd for the first time on LTM records a few weeks back
BTW Mr Szajner is the man who has build that light-harp-synth-thing for J-M-Jarre (remember live in Houston?) and this album is one of Carl Craig favourite records of all time, that should do it :-)

Kevin in Cusco says:

Good mp3 adds to the documentary, but Simple Minds had far better songs, especially in their early/before stadium Rock phase of their carreer.
As far as I know David Sylvian and Ryuichi Sakamoto made an album together. Must research and re-listen. YMO is important, but their influence on the british Electronic Pop or Synth Pop has been loose at that time.